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Melting Wires

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alpineski78

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History: Years ago my father was driving my 78 B when it caught fire. He said it was electrical and behind the dash. Melted part of the steering column cowl. I ended up buying the main wiring harness and the dash wiring harness. Installed the main harness, but not the dash. Years later, I keep blowing the fuse for the dash instruments and wipers. Not sure why. I was also having a problem with the e-brake. When pulling it up, the starter would come on. I think I have that figured out. Latest annoyance: I was told by my mechanic (who is far away and a little pricy) that I should go ahead and replace the dash wiring harness. So I did. What a pain. I try to do as much myself as possible. Like replace the bottom seal of a windshield. DON'T DO THAT!!

I tried to fire it up a month ago,and again, I smelled melting wires coming from the steering column. Saw smoke too. Pulled the steering column cowl and it revealed the same white wire with lite green stripe had melted. When doing the harness replacement I decided to replace ignition switch (key lock assembly and the wiring). On my old harness it was also the white wire with lite green stripe coming from the ignition switch that melted.

I posted to another forum before I found this one this morning. That forum indicated that the wire I was describing was going from the ignition to the radio console. True, it was a UK forum, but, I looked at it last night and couldn't find that white wire with lite green stripe going to the radio. I finally found the other end at the coil in the engine bay.

After that lengthy description, what could be causing my white wire with lite green stripe to be melting at the ignition switch? Could I have it connected to the wrong place on coil? The coil is loose, but bolted down. I had removed it a while ago. I need help!!

OH, and again, DON'T CHANGE THE BOTTOM SEAL OF YOUR WINDSHIELD!! YOURS IS JUST FINE THE WAY IT IS!!

Jake
 
Hi,I have a 1980 MGB, so it should be close. Apart from the high tension lead I have four wires attached to the coil. Two are white and two are white with black tracer. White with light green tracer should be from the starter switch to the starter interlock, the oil pressure switch to the fuel pump or the start inhibitor switch to the starter relay or solenoid. Being connected to the coil could be a very bad thing!!!!!
 
Jake, If I remember my wire colors correctly I beleave your wr wire should be for ignition/accesory not to the coil. Maybe you could take the wr wire off the coil and see if it starts and then will it run? Do you have a fire extinguisher handy? The carbon dioxide type don't make such a mess if you should need it. If I sound like I know what I'm talking about, just to let ya know 1. I am a professinal fire fighter and 2. Yes I have had an electrical fire in my '76B Goodluck, Mack
 
The most helpful resource I've ever used while debugging my B's electric system was found in the back of one of my Moss Motors catalogues. Let me go look for it, be right back...

...

OK, got it. In the very back under 'Tech Tips' were two whole pages dedicated to Wiring Troubles. The author lists every color wire found in the MGB along with a description beside it. It's saved me hours of wire-tracing. Hmmm, this magazine is kinda old (April 2003)... Try looking at the Moss Motors site. If you can't find the wiring tips there, I'll take the time to type out the color-description section.
 
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